Last updated
Average Rent in Back Central & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 2 apartment communities in Back Central, Lowell, MA. Updated daily.
Market Average
$1,318/mo
▼ 2.1% from last month
Lowest Available
$850/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
2
tracked daily
Units Listed
80
available now
Back Central vs Lowell, MA Average
Back Central is cheaper the Lowell, MA average by $260/mo (16%). The citywide average is $1,578/mo across all neighborhoods.
Is Rent Going Up or Down in Back Central?
As of May 2026, the average rent in Back Central is $1,318 per month across 2 apartment communities and 80 available units. Rents have decreased $44 (2.1%) over the past month.
The most affordable option is Edge Merrimack River starting at $850/mo. By unit type, a 1-bedroom averages $2,063/mo, a 2-bedroom averages $1,238/mo, a 4-bedroom averages $1,186/mo.
Prices range from $850 to $3,300 per month. The most common price point is the $1,200 range, where 31 units are currently listed.
Back Central Rent Price History
Average Rent by Bedroom
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in Back Central
Rent Prices by Apartment in Back Central
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edge Merrimack River | $850/mo | $1,260/mo | 77 | 4.2 |
| 201 Canal Apartments | $2,520/mo | $2,811/mo | 3 | 4.4 |
Google Search Trends for Back Central Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in Back Central
What is the average rent in Back Central?
Is rent going up or down in Back Central?
What is the cheapest apartment in Back Central?
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Back Central?
How many apartments are available in Back Central?
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Back Central?
Built on the 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Minimum to afford average rent
$53,000/year
30 percent rule -- using our average rent of $1,318/mo.
Comfortable income
$63,000/year
25 percent rule -- leaves more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($850/mo), you need to earn at least $34,000/year.
Median household income in Back Central is $76,205 , about 20% above the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in Back Central
Overall prices in Back Central runs above the national average by about 10% (BEA Regional Price Parity index 110.4, where 100 equals the U.S. average). The breakdown below estimates monthly costs for a single adult, using national consumer-spending baselines from the Bureau of Labor Statistics scaled by Back Central's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $1,318 |
| Utilities | $637 |
| Groceries | $544 |
| Transportation | $1,520 |
| Healthcare | $741 |
| Other goods and services | $1,186 |
| Estimated total | $5,946/mo |
Population
114,799
Median household income
$76,205
Census median rent
$1,603/mo
Rent as % of income
30.9%
Median age
35.5
Mean commute
28 min
Methodology
Rent data
Sourced directly from each tracked apartment community and refreshed every 24 hours. Every listed unit price on this page is real and listed today.
Cost of living
Estimates combine national consumer-spending baselines from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure Survey) with the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (MARPP dataset). Both are peer-reviewed federal data releases published annually.
Salary to live comfortably
Applies the standard 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income rule on top of the listed rent. This is the same affordability guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Demographic figures
Median household income, population, median age, commute time, Census median rent, and rent as percentage of income come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates, the most recent complete release.
Cost of living and demographic figures were last published in 2023.
Explore Back Central Apartments
Browse all 2 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.